Keynote Address: Titanium Oxide Coatings Showing Photocatalytic Activity and Enhanced Osteoblast Response

Abstract Body: Titanium spontaneously forms a thin amorphous oxide with limited bioactivity in oxygenated environments. Anodization treatments are often used to crystallize titanium oxide layers into anatase or rutile phases which have been shown to improve the bioactivity and increase corrosion resistance. Short-term ultraviolet (UV) treatments on anatase and rutile surfaces have been shown to photofunctionalize anodized layers through at least two mechanisms. UV-generated photocatalytic activity has been shown to produce reactive oxygen species that attack bacteria cell walls and thus reduce early bacteria attachment after implantation. UV-generated hydrocarbon cleaning mechanisms have been shown to increase hydrophilicity, reduce bacterial attachment, and improve osteoblast attachment. Oxide surface roughness, pore morphology, chemistry, and wettability have also been shown play important roles in the bacteria and osteoblast responses. This presentation will provide a review of current literature and recent work from our laboratory using customized electrolytes and post anodization treatments to create functionalized oxide layers.